GENERAL SUMMARY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 May 1869, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, March 26th.

The Queen has visited London, and held a Levee, a Council, and a Drawingroom. She also visited the Zoological Gardens and the South Kensington Museum.

On the 15th March, the debate on Mr. Newdegate's motion to reject the Irish Church Disestablishment Bill took place. The motion was not supported— by Mr. Disraeli, and was rejected after a noisy debate, 355 against 229. The House went into Committee on the 16th, on Mr. Disraeli's amendment to omit clause 2 in the Bill, which was also rejected by 344 against 221 The debate on the second reading terminated on the 23rd March. Mr. Gathorne Hardy, and Mr. Walpole, strongly opposed the disestablishment of the Church. The former said that the policy of the Government promoted disunion, instead of assimilating England and Ireland. Mr. Gladstone ably defended the notice of the measure, the details of which would, however, be ..subject to modification when the House went into Co.nmittee on the Bill. The second reading was eventually passed, by a majority of 118 votes, the 'numbers being 388 and 250

Mr. ChichesterFortescne his announced that no more Fenian convicts will ba released than those already determined on.

Mr. Lowe's Financial Statement shows the revenue to be £72,855,000 ; the expenditure, including the cost of the Abyssinian expedition, being stated at £78,223,000. He proposes to deduct one penny from the present income-tax, to repeal the duty on fire insurance, and to reduce several other taxes. The Budget was favourably received.' A plot to assassinate the Viceroy of Egypt, by placing an explosive machine under liis box in the theatre has been discovered.

The Oriental Bank has declared a dividend for the half-year of six par cent. Tlie"Ch Altered Mercantile Bank of India, Australia, and China, has declared a dividend at the rate of six per cent. The Government have introduced a Bankruptcy Bill into Parliament, based on the Scotch system. A Bill increasing Lord Napier's salary has passed the House of Commons. A Bill has also been introduced to repeal the Brazilian Slave Trade Act. The House of Commons has appointed ■a Solect Committee on Elections, to consider whether a system of secret voting, equivalent to the Ballot, cannot be devised.

Lord Antrim's bailiff has been assassinated at Donegal.

Several Fenian convicts hafe been released from prison. Mackay, however, i 3 detained until theexpiry of his sentence.

inr John Lawrence's title is Baron L.vwrence of the Punjatib.

A strike prevails among the Preston operatives. The opening of the Suez Canal, is appointed to take place on the 17th April, when the waters of the Mevlitorraaian will be admitted.

The Admiralty officials charged with receiving money from tenderers, have been committed for trial.

The Indian Budget has called forth some adverse eriticisai from the Liberal press. Several failures in the cotton trade in Lancashire are announced.

The 70 miles of the Persian Gulf Cable thrown overboard from the Calcutta, have been recovered.

The steamer Cambria has been wrecked jmi the coast of Sicily with the loss of 20' lives .

The Gfreat Warwickshire Handicap was won by Lonl Calthorpe's Knight of the Garter, and the Grand National Steeplechase at Liverpool by Mr. Weirgan's (?) Colonel*

An inquest was hsld'on the body of Si? James Emerson Tennent, and a verciw was returned by the jury, of death from apoplexy. A battle has taken place ih Cuba", be= tween the troops and 4,000 insurgents^ resulting in the defeat of the latter, who had received aid from New York;

The emigration movement has acquired importance from the growing distreba among the industrial classes. At a meeting held in the Agricultural ilall, London, the asking for Government aid was advocated. The cotton operatives have" joined the movement. v -

The proposed line of stoamers td Ahstralia, via the Cape of Good Hope, is approved of in London, but numerous pro= tests have been made against mixing the" postal services with it.

Arrangements have been made for the sale of Australian preserved meats at the 80 shops of the Aerated Bread Company $ London.

A testimonial of the value of £3,000 has been presented to Mr. Roebuck.

The Bishop of London is stated to be indisposed to continue tho proceedings against the Rev; Mr. Bennett of Frome.

Madame Rachel is once more in Newgate; One of her sureties, finding her selling off her furniture, and being afraid lest she should leave the conntiy, applied to the Judge for an order to detain her.

Serious Murphy riots have been occasioned at Aorth Shields by 200 Irish Catholics, armed with bludgeons. The military were called out, and several persons were seriously injured before order was restored.

Several atrocious murders have been committed in Ireland.

Sir Roger Tichborne, the Australian claimant of the Tichborne title and estates, who was lately reported to haye 1 been murdered in Soutli America, has returned to En^laud, and the case will be tried on the earliest possible day. Obituary. — Earl of Wicklow, Eaii v of Glasgow, Lord Lecorifield, General Ormsby, Sir William Clay, Lord Wynifcrd, General Jonrni, Sir John Petrfr Boileau, the Hon. Edward Gordon, Duke" Christian of Schleswig Holstein, Mr. Stephen Simpson, and the Ea*i of Radnor.-